Process for manufacturing glossy cellulose threads.



No. 842,568. PATENTED JAN. 29, 1907.

R. LINKMEYER. PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING GLOSSY OELLULOSE THREADS.

APPLIGATIO ED MAR.1.1905.

D n w m n wfi v H n t D r 0 O 0 O 0 0 6 0 0 Q Q K C K 6 O 0 0 w r\ 0 AU 0 a D D D D b nu mm UNITED s'rA'rns PATENT OFFICE,

RUDOLF LINKMEYER, OF HERF ORD, GERMANY.

PROCESS'FQR MANu Acfru me GLOSSY CELLULOSE THREADS.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

liat'ented Jan. 29. 1907. l

i Application filed lilarcli 1, 1905. Serial No. 247,998.

'for manufacturing glossy cellulose threads and the product thus formed.

Numerous processes are known the object of which is to manufacturebrilliant threads resembling sill; by means of solutions of cellulose in ammoniacal oxid of c opper. The oldest of these processes is that of Despeissia,

in accordance with which threads are ob tained by causing the discharge underpressure of a cupro-ammoniacal solution of cellulose through capillary orifices .into liquids capable of precipitating the dissolved cellulose in Schweitzers reagent. Publications designate as such liquids the acids, the alcohols, the solutionsof sugar and of salt, and the fixed alkalies. On the other hand, the elimination of the salts with which the thread remains charged after it leaves the precipitation-bath is, generally effected in a wellknown manner by submitting the thread to the action of acid diluted to about from ten to thirty per cent. Whatever liquid is employed for the precipitation the thread obtained generally lacks strength, especially in the moist condition. This remark is particularly applicable to threads obtained by precipitation in acetic acid or in a relatively concentrated acid of from thirty to sixty-five per cent. The reason for this want of strength would appear to be due to a sort of decomposition produced by the presence of free ammopia in the solutionsbefore the precipitation or in the precipitated threads at the moment at which they are to be submitted to the acid Washing. Although the: harmful effects of this decomposition have already'been noted, hitherto the cause has never been recognized. When fixed alkalies are employed for effecting the precipitation, the threads obtained present an opaque appearance, which is apparently likewise attributable to the e fl"ects of this decomposition, and it is probably owing to .this opacity that the employment of alkaline liquids for the preci itation has not bemanufacture of a kind of felt. (English Patent No. 3,164 of 1899 If soda or potash lyes areemployed for the precipitation-bath, merely a coagulation is produced, part of the ammonia passing into the precipitationbath, and after the washing of the threads with acid it is found that they are stronger than those precipitated inacids.

If, however, immediately after leaving the precipitation-bath the ammonia still conf tained in thethreads is eliminated as completely as possible before freeing them fronr the oxidof copper that they still contain by a washing with diluteacid, their strength will be largely increased and the decomposition referred to above will not take place.

The elimination of the copper by'washing is efiected particularly readilvwhen' the oxid of copper hasbeen converted into a salt dissolving readily in ac1dsfor example,

into carbonate of copper.

In order to eliminate the freshly-formed threads, they may be treated by means of air, which produces the evaporation of. the ammonia and precipitates the copper as hydroxid, a portion of which is then convertedinto carbonate by the carbonic acid in the air. For example, the threads are wound upona cylinder ar. ranged outside the precipitation-bath, and

the ammonia from which may be perforated and arranged in such a manner as to permit arr-injection or suction of air through the layers of thread. When the threads have been recipita'ted in a soda-lye, for example, they eave it with a come opaque, and when th ir appearance no longer undergoes modification they are in 5 the most favorable state for being submitted to washin with dilute acids, which imparts to them fil6 transparency of glass and removes their *coloration. They may be then dried, after having been submitted to asecon-d washing-if desired.

In the drawinos I have'shown a construction which may be employed in carrying out my process, in which Flgure 1' is a plan view of the dev ce; and Fig. 2, a sectional view online 2 2, Fig.1.

a is'the cylinder upon which the threads are wound. Y

b are radial holes, and c ace-ntral opening into which is fitted a pipe d, also perforated 9 blue and transparentappearance, and bv- I with corresponding holes, and one end of whichisclosed by a stopper e.

Air injected or exhausted through the pipe (1 passes through and dries the layers of thread wound upon the cylinder a.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

41. In the manufacture of silk-like threads by causing solutions of cellulose in ammoniacal oxid of copper to issue through capillary orifices into solutions of fixed salts or alkalies, eliminating the free ammonia from the threads and converting the oxid of co per contained in the same into a salt easi y soluble in acids and subsequently. washing the threads with diluted acids.

- 2. In the manufacture of silk-like threads by causing solutions of cellulose in ammoniacal oXid of copper to issue throu h capil' lary orifices into solutions of fixed salts oralkalies, removing the free ammonia from the threads and converting the oxid of copper contained in the said threads into carbonate of copper and subsequently washing the threads with diluted acids.

3. Inthe manufacture of silk-like threads by causin solutions of cellulose in amniomacal oxid of copper to issue through capillary orifices into solutions of fixed salts or alkalies, winding-the threads upon a perforated cylinder arranged outside the precipitationbath and causing air to pass through the layers of thread previously to washing the latter with diluted acids.

In testimony whereof I-aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' RUDOLF LINKMEYER.

Witnesses:

GREGORY PHELAN, MAU ICE GERBGAULT. 

